Triangles

Shortly after being immersed in the expat world I was exposed to the descriptor "triangle."  Whenever someone moves their life and perspective changes.  The term "triangle" is a beautiful analogy of describing that change.

Home may be considered as the place where you are from, where you were born, where life is "normal," you have family, you have established routines, customs, etc.  Your home country is considered to be a circle country.

The country to which you have been assigned as an expat is a square country, a place where food, customs, traditions, holidays, routine, etc. may be different.

When you move to a new country you start to change no longer feeling like a circle or a square.  The expat transforms into a third shape, a triangle.  You are not completely a square, but you are no longer a circle.  The square country may feel like home but you will never be 100% square.  Your circle country will always be a part of you but it may not feel like home.

After comprehending what a triangle is it is easier to see the difficulty in answering the questions as to where you are from or where is home.  When you return "home" you may feel like a stranger in a strange land.  Life will never be "like it use to be."  In a movie I saw recently the main character was asked where he was from to which he responded, "I am from all over...but I live here now."  Our son has remarked that our circle country does not feel like home, rather it is a place he/we are familiar with and that home is where the family is.  From the mouths of babes.

Props to a tremendous source, I Am a Triangle, adapted by Naomi Hattaway (naomihattaway.com).